1/3 - 1/2 of americans know who they are voting for before the primaries

How are americans able to make up their minds of who they would elect before the campaign reaches full swing

they have a longer time horizon than the considerations that dominate news coverage

emphasize party loyalties

and government performance

party identification

how the american electorate view themselves ex. republican or democrat

what factor provides continuity between elections and allows political scientists to make predictions and analysis

party identification

Name some groups that generally vote democratic

African americans

urbanites

catholics

name some groups that generally vote republican

wealthy

rural residents

southerners

white protestant

what is the gender gap

the broadening differences between the ideologies of men and women

how do swing voters generally decide how to vote

they consider the performance of currently elected officials

Retrospective voting

voting on the basis of past performance

why do voters typically avoid using policy proposals to determine their choice among candidates

policy debates are complicated

voters may be uncertain of where candidates really stand if the candidates are vague

why do party's often downgrade their candidate when he wins an election

because it is easier to blame their messenger than to say that the electorate didn't like their message

What is an incumbent

sitting member of congress or a sitting president

what is a safe seat

a seat in the house that will very likely always be controlled by one party due to a politically one-sided district

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How do voters generally choose who to vote for the house

they vote according to their party -- most voters don't even know the names of their representatives

incumbency advantage

the electoral benefit of being an incumbent - they are very likely to get reelected

Why do incumbents do so well

they already understand the voters

they know when they are in trouble and can act accordingly -- if they feel they have little chance of winning, they won't run

Define Coattails

when the president carries his own party's candidates for congress into office

Status of coattails today

declining more voters are voting with a split ticket

midterm loss

losing members of congress from the president party during a midterm election

what can hinder an incumbents ability to get reelected

foreign affairs problems

economic problems

How were senators originally elected

selected by the legislature

Why is the house not responsive to the national mood

most representatives tend to the needs and mood of their individual district

17 Amendment

senators are elected by popular vote

Why is it important for senators to keep public support

because senate campaigns are extremely expensive and psychologically draining

Who (senators or representatives) has a harder time keeping public support and why

senators the constituents they serve are more diverse because they are elected by the whole state not just by a district

Who faces stronger opponents senators or representatives

representatives

Why aren't campaigns that important

because voters usually know who they are voting for before campaign season even starts

What factors determine who wins elections

social and economic issues NOT strategic campaign decisions

What to stages of an election must a candidate win to be elected

the nomination process and the general election

What is the FEC (nomination campaigns)

the federal election commission

what does the FEC do (nomination campaigns)

match the funds that a candidate raises when running in a presidential election

what are the rules set by the FEC (nomination campaigns)

candidates must not excede a spending limit

candidates must continue to do well in primaries to receive funding

what is "matching funds" (nomination campaigns)

the term used to refer to the FEC donating money to a candidate's campaign that matches the amount he has earned himself

why might a candidate opt out of the FEC deal (nomination campaigns)

so he/she can spend more on their campaign

laws allow candidates to accept more money from individuals

the internet has made it possible for large amounts to be made from small donors

what is the FECA

federal election campaign act

Under 1974 FECA act how long can presidential candidates raise money

during the entire general election campaign

soft money

money contributed by interest groups, labor unions and individual donors that is not subject to federal regulation

Purpose of campaign consultants

oversee the expenditures of a campaign

where is most money spent in general elections

broadcast advertising

Most important advantage of incumbents

MONEY!!!

What are the benefits of amassing large amounts of money in a congressional campaign

it acts as a deterrent encouraging other candidates not to run

how many electors does a state get

representatives + senators = electors

23 Amendment

DC gets three electors

What states do not use the winner takes all system

Maine and Nebraska

Benefits of the Electoral College

requires a candidate to have broad appeal

may reduce the importance of money (candidates can pinpoint states to focus on)

may reduce corruption

Reapportionment

redistributing the 435 seats of the house after a census

Which article says each state gets one representative

Article 1

Redistricting

Redrawing boundary lines of districts so populations are equal

gerrymandering

drawing lines to benefit a political group

Single Member Simple Plurality System

electoral system where the country is divided into districts and whichever candidate wins the most votes from their district is elected

problem with gerrymandering

minorities are not represented

proportional representation

the US does not currently do this but it is the idea that a party should receive seats according to their share of the vote (districts would not be used in this case)

Problems with proportional representation

severs link between representatives and constituents

fringe parties likely to arise

caucus

a meeting of candidate supporters

primary election

a preliminary election

closed primaries

only those who are registered with the specific party may vote

open primaries

any registered voter can vote in either party's primary

super-delegates

party leaders and elected officials - automatic delegates (more democratic ones than republican)

procedural problems with the nomination process

too long

front-loading of primaries

political problems with the nomination process

usually extremists are the ones voting in primaries

horse race media coverage

the media more concerned about who is ahead in a political race and what they are doing to get there

filing deadlines

the last day a congressional candidate can sign up and pay his fees to run

Open seats

easiest won seats in a congressional election -- when someone dies, retires, etc

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